Machine for treating hides, skins, and leather



p 9 I c. H. BECKER 1,707,383

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS, AND LEATHER Filed Sept. 19, 1925 Fig.w I M thrust of a bladed cylinder.

Patented Apr. 2, 1929 UNITED STAT,ESTPATENT oFFICEJQ CHARLES H. BECKER,or WEST ALLIs, W sconsin, nssrenon To THE TURNER ran NING MACHINERYCOMPANY, or PORTLAND, Min van CoRPoRArroN or MAINE.

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS, AND LEATHER;

Application filed September 19, 1925. Serial No. 57,362.

This invention relates to machines for treating hides, skins andleather, and is illus trated as embodied ina machine designed forperforming unhairing operations although in various aspects theinvention is notlimited to embodiment in machines of the illustratedtype or to use inperforming the particular operations ust referred to. e

One well known type of machine for performing operations such as thoseabove mentioned has been provided with a yielding member to support thework against the As heretofore constructed such yielding,work-supporting members have consisted of pneumatic rolls rotatablyadjustable to present successive work-engaging portions in operativerelation to the tool. These members have been relatively expensive tomanufacture. Moreover, each Work-supporting portion of the surface Woreaway rapidly causing frequent adjustment to present an unwornsurface inwork-t supporting relation to the tool, with theresult that soon theentire roll became poly onal in cross-section unfitting it for furtheruse. This necessitated frequent replacement of the work-supportingmembers. other prior constructions the yielding work support has beenfurnished by one member, not adjustable to present successive surfacesin work supporting position, or a plurality of members yieldingindividually to the. thrust of the tool but not adjustable to presentnew surfaces in opposition to the tool. Where a single-piece pneumaticwork support is'employed which is not adjustableit' is of considerablyshorter life than the adjustable type already referred to. In theconstruetion employing a plurality of yielding work support members,worn members may be replaced locally along the length of the operatingtool but that involves the necessity of constant inspection and frequentadjust ment of the tensioning means for the members andfrequentreplacement as the members become too Worn to function properly.

in view of the foregoing, itis an object of the invention to provide animproved machine for treating hides, skins or leather which will not beopen. to the ob ections above stated and will-be other vise simple construction, relativelyinexpensive in upkeep, and readily adj ustable bythe ordinary workman.

Tothis end, and in accordance With important features of the, invention,there is provided a flexible memberto support the work against thethrust'of the working tool in combination With pneumatic meansfiforyieldingly backing the flexible member along the line of applicationofthe tool to the Work. In preferred construction, as illustrated theflexible member comprises a relatively 'inexpensive bolster whichpresentslfor co-operatien wifth the treating-tool and with the pneumaticmeans a' broader surface than that heretofore provided by any of theprior constructions and a more effective surface, particularly forcertain purposes. Prefer-.

ably means is provided for varying the width of the-surface on thebolster whichco operates at any given time with the tool. To .faeilitate ready adjustment of the bolster to present afresh surface when thesurface o.p-

posed to'the tool becomes too Worn, the illustrated bolster is securedalong its longi tudinal edges to two rollers so that it may be 1 rolledoff of one roller on to the other step by step to any desired extent.Conveniently, one of the rollers is utilized to serve as means foryieldingly applying tension of a selected maximum amount to the bolster,whereby the bolster may accommodate itself tov variations the thicknessof the work. I The'invention contemplates also the pro-' vision ofa'yieldingbacking for the bolster constructed to yield alongamultiplicity of lines so that the latter bolster may accommoe date themore readily variations the thickness of the Work. Conveniently theyielding backing for the bolster is furnished by a pneumatic memberembraced by an unyielding casing to provide proper support for themember. in the illustrated construction,- the casing is a rigid hollowcylinder slotted along one side to expose the contained pneumatic memberas a support for the bolster where the latter receives: the thrust ofthe treating tool. V I V r f- Other features of the invention andnovelcombinations of parts will be described in the detailed specificationand set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1. is a plan view from above and partly in section showing oneembodimentof the in vent-ion;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical view of parts of the machine shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but show ing the parts inwork-treating position; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in section disclosing the construction ofthe pneumatic member and its mounting.

In the illustrated machine the work treating tool is a cylinder 10having blades 12 helieally arranged on the surface of the cylinder andextending in opposite directions from points intermediate between theends of the cylinder as most clearly disclosed in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. As shown, the cylinder 10 is mounted for rotation in hearingsin side members 11 of the machine frame. This cylinder 10 is providedwith blades for performing unhairing operations. It will be unclerstood,however, that any one of a number of cylinders with blades adapted tothe performance of other operations on hides, skins and leather may besubstituted for the cylinder shown without departing from the principlesof the invention. For supporting the work for the operation of the tool10 there is provided a broad, flexible member or bolster 14 and ayielding, supporting or backing inember for the bolster indicated byreference character 16 and hereinafter described in detail.

As illustrated, the flexible member or bolster 14 comprises a matpreferably made of vulcanized rubber and provided with a heavy canvasbacking, the canvas backing member being extended beyond the mat orbolster proper to afford attacl'iingportions 20, 21 adapted to beattached to supporting members which, in the construction shown, arerollers 22, 24.

In beginning operations with a new machine, or at least with a newbolster, the latter is wound upon the roller 22 (Fig. 2) to such anextent as to leave one end surface of the bolster in contact with thetool 10, this end of the bolster being secured against displacement bymeans of the fabric or canvas extension 21 which is wound upon the otherroller 24 (Fig. 2). After the bolster has served for a considerableperiod in its first position it may be adjusted when worn by winding upon the roller 24 and simultaneously therewith unrolling a portion of thebolster from the other roller 22. This adjustment of the bolster isrepeated from time to time until all of the bolster surface has beenutilized as a work support, it being preferable to have both ends of thebolster pro-- vided with fabric or canvas portions similar to that shownmore clearly at 21 in Fig. 2, the other canvas portion being indicatedat 20 on the roller 22 (Fig. 2). Afterthe rollers have been rotated toposition the bolster as desired the roller 22 is secured fixedly inposition by relatively heavy set screws one of which is shown at 25, theother roller 24 being secured against displacement through a pawl andratchet mechanism 28, 30, of which the pawl28 is held in operativeposition by a spring 32.

In order that the roller-.24 may operate also as a tensioning means forthe bolster it has preferably mounted upon it a pair of lever arms 34pivoted on end portions 36 (Fig. l) of the roller 24 which is rotatablymounted in a carrier 37 slidable on the side frames 11 of the machine.Each lever 34 is provided with a weighted member 44 adjustable along thelever extension'46 so as to enable the operator to apply any desired'tension upon the bolster. Since the ratchet is secured to the roller 24 andthe pawl 28 is positioned within a bifurcation of the lever 34-,thelever may be used as a hand-operated means for turning the roller 24 towind up the bolster l4 thereon and also to apply the desired tension tothe bolster. The amount of tension may be determined through adjustmentof the weighted member 44 and through adjustment of a supporting memberfor the lever 84. Since there is a lever 34 together with the ratchetand pawl mechanism 28, 30 at each end of theroller 24 it is possible forone workman to adjust the tension upon the bolster, it being preferable,however, for both levers to be operated at substantially the same time.v

Conveniently, and as shown, the weighted levers 3.; serve also as meansfor yieldingly tensioning the bolster 14. Since, as already stated, theratchet wheels 30 are secured to the ends of the roller 24, unusualpressure on the bolster 14 occasioned, for instance, by especially thickportions of the work or an unusually heavy piece of work, will tend toturn the roller 24 and, on occasion will actually turn said roller in anunwinding direc tion with respect to the bolster 14, this reverse rotarymovement of the roller being permitted through a lifting movement of thetwo levers 34. It will be understood that the levers will immediatelyreturn to normal position following the passage of the thicker portionof the work and that the maximum tension on the bolster, before anyyielding takes place, may be regulated through adjustment of the weight44 on the arm 46 of the lever 34 and further through adjustment of themember 50, as will hereinafter be described. As an additional means forcontrolling the tension of the bolster, thesupporting member 50 ispassed loosely through a projecting boss 52 on the carrier 37 and hasthis end provided with a convexly-surfaced but lit) ton 55 for seatingin a cup iii-the boss 52, the

end of the member 50 being screw-threaded to; supportadjusting and locknuts56 and 57. The lower end of member 5.0 is pivoted at 58 to the leverarm 34. It will be understood that adjustment of the member 50 willserve to vary the position of the lever. 34 and thus.

provide for adjustment the tension on the bolster.

Means is provided for causing the bolster 14 to present arelativelybroad surface to the tool 10, this means in the construction showncomprising a roller 60 (Fig. 4) extending.

longitudinally of the bolster and parallel with the tool 10. As shown,the roller 60 is mounted in a supporting member 64 carried by a bracket62. securely attached tothe carrier 37 sov as to move bodily with therollers 22, 24; and the backing: member 16 during movement or theseparts in, directions toward and away from the tool 10. Hence, when thecarrier 37yis in retracted-position (shown in Fig. 2. of the drawings)the bolster is not disturbed in itsposition nor in its tension.

-As stated the roller is mounted directly upon the supporting member 64adjustable on the bracket 62,. thus: making it possibleto vary theposition of the roller 60 with respect to the. tool 10 and the yieldingbacking member16', whereby the bolster may be caused to present asurface of desired width i'or con tact with the curved surface of thetool 10. For instance, if the supporting," member 64 shouldbe adjustedtoward the lezt't in Fig 3 of the drawings, the bolster 14 would be sopositioned as to embracea'larger portion of the: curved surface of thetool-10 than: is disclosed in said figure. Ordinarily the bolster willoccupy the position shown. in Figs. 2 and 3 when it is especiallyefiective in co-operation with the tool inunhairing and scuddingoperations. For purposes of adjustinent the member 64 at each end of theroller 60 is provided with a screw threaded member 66 fixed- 1y securedthereto and extending through a projecting part 68 of the bracket. 62.Upon proper manipulation of thenuts 70 on the screwthread'ed, member 66the supporting member 64 may be ad usted and secured in; su-chadjustedposition as may be found de-.

sirable. With the bar or roller 60 adjusted to'the right, in Figs. 2"and3, the bolster may betensioned to'be in a plane tangential to thecylindrical" surface 01 t-hetool 10, in which condition it wouldco-operate with the'proper tool. to greater advantage in such a hide orleather-treating operation as fleshing.

In the illustrated machine, the yieldingbacking member 16-comprises aninside pn eumatic tube; 8O (Fig. 4). enclosed in a heavy canvas casingor shoe 82, the pneumatic tube and the casing being of a size to fitsnugly within a rigid hollow cylinder 84 supported fixedly at itsends inside portions o't-the car rier 37 means bein rovided at oneend of thecylinder and pneumatic tube to intro- .duce air into the latter. underpressure from:

any desired source, such as an air pump (not shown), one of the bearings86 iior the cylinder being hollow, tor the passage of the air tube88. Inorder that the yielding. backing member 16 may have a portion of itssurface exposed for contact. with the bolster 14 the cylinder 84 has arelatively wide slot 90' extending lengthwise. ofthe c *linder oppositeto the adjacent surface of the tool 10, the con ter line'oit the slot 90being in a plane pass-- ing through the axes of the cylinder 84 and thetool 10. In the preferredconstruction illustrated, the relatively heavycanvas casing; 82 comprises a cylindrical portion having end portions 94which are receivable each in a groove provided by a reduced portion 96ot the screw threaded end members 98 and 99" of the metal cylinder 84.Vithin the cylin drical portion of the canvas casingv 2 a'd 'zacenteachend thereof is'a. pair of disks 160' pose inflating the tube 80.

Considerable friction and heat tends to develop between the bolster 14and the shoe 8?.

of the yielding backing member 16 due to vibration of the bolster causedby'the blades. striking. against the bolster at a high rate of speed. Toovercome any possible disadvantagefrom this condition, means is P ovidedto cool the contacting surfaces, the said means comprising in theconstruction shown a spraying device: in the form of a perforated pipe1.03through whichvcold water may be allowed tofiow any desired pressurefrom a source not shown.

For feedii the work over the bolster 14'- I and past the tool 10 thereis provided, in the construction shown, a number of .feed rolls.

Of these rollsthe 3 Ext-' 3) is rubber covered so as to engagefrictionally with the work andis mounted at each end upon an armextendingup'from the carrier 7 p 37. Carried in a bracket 1'12is asecond feed roll 114. Between these two rolls there is a third roll 116which serves as pinch roll movable along a slot 118, in a bracketextension 120, into and out of co-opera-tive rela-- tion with res sectto the feed: rolls 110, 114.

The roll 116 is moved upwardly into inopera tive position at the sametime that the carrier 37 is retracted andin this position the work 1Vmay be readily introduced. Upon movementof the carrier 37 toward thetool 10 the pinch roll 116 descends topress the work against the feedrolls 110, 114 whereby .the

iii

ineans for supper-tin work is dragged past the operating tool and overthe bolster 14. I

lVhen one part of the work has been operated upon, substantiallyone-half thereof, the operator trips the usual treadle to cause a secondretraction. of the carrier 37 so that the work may be removed, reversed,and reintroduced into the machine to complete the operati on upon theromaining portion. For a more complete disclos-zuro of the operatingmeans for the feed rolls and for the carrier 37, reference should be hadto United States Let ters Patent No; 696,588, ,qranted April 1, 1902,upon application of F. J. Perkins, and to No. 8%,640 granted Feb. 26,1907, upon application of H. A. Holder. 1V hile a roll similar to thefeed roll 110 herein illustrated serves in. the Perkins machine as a bedroll as well as a feed roll, the mounting and movement of the two arethe same in the two machines. It is further pointed out that theconstruction and arrangement of the feet rolls of the illustratedmachine are fully shown in said United States Letters Patent No.$15,640. It should be stated that the bracket 112 which carries the feedroll ll-l and the pinch roll 116 is slidable on the carrier 37 and isheld under spring; pressure, as disclosed in the patents cited, whichconstantly urges the bracket 11?, to press the two rolls 11 i, 116yieldingly in the direction of the roll 110. Hence, when the pinch roll116 is pulled downwardly along the slot 118 it engages,

with the work W and forces it into contact with, both of the rolls 110,11 1. Further- .more, the carrier 37 is constantly under a yieldingpressure, provided by springs, not shown, operative to permit a yieldingof the backing roll 16 in case an unusually thick piece of work isintroduced between the cylinder 10 and the bolster 14:, the sameyielding ot the backing member 16 taking place when an unusually thickportion of piece of work is being operated upon. This particularmounting of the bracket 112 and of the carrier 37 by which they yield inthe manner described when thick portions or the work are passing is notshown in detail since it forms part of 'an old and well knownconstruct-ion shown, for instance, in the Perkins and 'lolder patents,already cited.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In a machine of the character described, toolfor treating; hides, skins or leather, and

the work for the operation of the tool comprising a'flexible member, anda pneumatic member for yielding'ly supporting the flexible member alongthe line of application of the tool to the work.

2. In a machine of the character described, a tool for treating hides,skins or leather, and means for supporting the work for the operation ofthe tool comprising a flexible member adapted to present a relativelybroadsurface to the tool, and a member having a locally yieldingsurface-for yieldingly backing the flexible member along the line ofapplication 01 the tool. l

3. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins or leather, a cylinderhaving a blade for operating on a piece of work, means for supportingthe work for the operation of the cylinder comprising flexible member extending the full length or" the blade and partially around the surfaceof the cylinder, and means having a locally yielding portion foryielding'ly backing the flexible member along the line of application ofthe blade to the piece of work. I

In a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a tool foroperating on a piece of work, work supporting means comprising apneumatic backing member, a bolster interposed between the tool and thepneumatic member, and means for mounting,- the bolster having asupporting surface for the bolster located in front oil the pneumaticmember, said mounting means being adjustable to tension the bolster sothat in conjunction with the mounting thereof the bolster is caused topresenta broader surface to the tool than would be afforded by thepneumatic member.

5. In a machinefor operating upon hides, skins or leather, a tool foroperating on a piece of work, a bolster adapted to support the work forthe operation ofthe tool, a pneumatic member extending across thebolster to form a yielding backing for the latter, and anunyieldingsupport for the pneumatic member arranged partly to surroundthe pneumatic member and to expose part of the pneumatic member forcontact with the bolster. V i I 6. In a, machine, for operating onhides, skins or leathena bladed cylinder for operating on a piece ofwork, a bolster adapted to support the work in contact with asubstantial portion of the bladed cylinder, a pneumatic member. back ofthe bolster for forming a yielding backing for the latter, and an unyielding casing for the pneumatic member having a portion cut away toexpose part of the pneumatic member for contact with the bolster.

7. In a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a cylinderhaving blades for operating on a piece of work, a bolster for supportingthe work against the cylinder, means for applying tension to thebolster, and other means for yieldingly backing the bolster along thelines of application of the blades of the cylinder to the workcomprising a pneumatic member and a member for rigidly supporting thepneumatic member.

8. In a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a cylinderhaving blades for operating on a piece of work, a bolster for supportingthe work against the cylinder,

means for applying yielding tension to the bolster, and a pneumaticmember for yieldingly backing the bolster against the thrust of theblades of the cylinder.

9- In a machine for'operating on hides, skins or leather, a tool havinga blade for operating on a piece of work, Work supporting meanscomprising a "pneumatic roll and a bolster interposed between the tooland the against the operation of the tool, means for backing the bolsteralong the line of application of the tool to the work, a member overwhich the bolster is passed, and means for adjustably supporting themember to vary the breadth of the surface of the bolster in cooperationWith the backing means and the tool to suit variousclasscs of work.

11. In a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a cylinderhaving blades for operating on a piece of work, a bolster for supportingthe Work against theoperation of the cylinder, means for yieldinglytensioning the bolster so that it may accommodate itself to variationsin the thickness of the Work, a pneumatic member for backing the bolsteralong the linesof application of the blades to the piece of Work, and amember affording unyielding support to the pneumatic member.

12. In a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a bladedcylinder vrotatable for operating on a piece of Work, means forsupporting the work for theoperation of the cylinder comprising aflexible member extending the full length of the cylinder and partiallyaround the surface thereof,means for yieldingly tensioning the flexiblemember so that it may accommodate itself to variations in the thicknessof the Work, and astationary member having a locally yielding surfacefor yieldingly backing the flexible member along the line of applicationof the bladed cylinder.

13. In a machine for .operating on hides,

skins or leather, a bladed cylinder for operating on a piece of Work, abolster for supporting the work against the thrust of the cylinder, amember to Which one end of the bolster. is attached, a roller to Whichthe other end of the bolster is attachechsaid roller being rotatable toapply tension to the bolster, and a stationary member having a locallyyielding portion for yieldingly-backing the bolster along the line ofapplication'of the bladed cylinder.

14. In a machine for operating on hides,

skins or leather,a tool for operating on a piece of Work, a bolster forsupporting the work for the operation of the tool, a pair of rollers toeach of which one end of the bolster is attached so that the bolster maybe rolled piece off of one roller and onto the other roller'in adjustingthe Work surface of the bolster With respect to the tool, and means foroperating one of the rollers to apply tension of a selected maximumamount to the-bolster,

15.111 a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a tool foroperating on a piece of work, a bolster for supporting the work againstthe thrust of the tool, a member to which one end of the bolster isattached, a roller to which another end of the-bolster is attached, saidroller being rotatable to apply tension to the bolster, and a Weightedmember operative torotate the roller and to maintain the tension on thebolster yieldingly at a selected maximum amount. 3

1 16.'In a machine for operating on hides, s {1113 of work, a bolsterfor supportingv the work against the thrust of the tool, a roller towhich one end portion of the bolster is attached, a second roller towhich the opposite edge portion ofthe bolster is attached, both rollersbeing rotatable so as to shift the bolster to bring a new Worksupporting surface thereon in position opposed to the tool, and a orleather, a tool for operating on a pair of membersoperative to apply amaximum tension to the bolster. I

17 In a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a tool foroperatingon a piece of work, a bolster for supportingthe work againstthe tool,means for-applying tension to the bolster, a pair of rollersto'each of which one end of the bolster is attached so that the bolstermay be rolled off of one roller onto the other roller, and a lever foroperating one of the rollers to apply tension on the bolster and tomaintain the tension at a selected maximum amount.

18.,In a machine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a tool foroperating on a piece of Work, a bolster for supporting the Work againstthe thrust of the tool, a roller to which one end portion of the bolsteris attached, a second roller to which the opposite end portion of thebolster is attached, both rollers being rotatable so as to shift thebolster to bring a new Work supporting surface thereon in positionopposed to the tool, and a third rollerover which the bolster is passedto permit adjustment of the bolster in directions toward and from thetool.

19. In amachine for operating on hides, skins or leather, a tool foroperating on a piece of Work, a bolster for supporting the Work for theoperation of the tool, a support for fixedly holding one end of thebolster during operation of the machine, and means for adjusting'thebolster -to present a neW surface when a given surface has become Worn.

20. In a machine for operating on hides,

skins or leather, a tool for operating on a piece tached and arranged sothat the bolster may along the line of application of the tool to 10 berolled off of one roller and onto the other the Work, and a memberspaced apart With roller in adjusting the Work surface of the respect tothe yielding member to co-operate bolster With respect to the tool. withthe latter in supporting the bolster so i skins or leather a tool foroperating on a piece tool.

' 21, In a machine for operating on hides that the latter presents abroad surface to the 15 of Work, a bolster for supporting the Work Intestimony whereof I have signed my against the tool, end supports forthe bolster, name to this specification.

a yielding member for backing the bolster CHARLES H. BECKER.

